Giving

Yesterday something happened to Tony that I don't think he will ever forget. This is the first week that he has gotten to work since the accident. As you may or may not know, he lost 2 fingers in an accident with a saw. He and his co-worker Scott went to McDonald's for breakfast and as he was standing in line, something was slipped into his hand. He looked and saw that it was money, but couldn't see how much. He turned around to see a man he had never seen before and said 'no sir, I can't take this', but the man said, 'Merry Christmas'. Tony argued with him about taking it, but he insisted. He told Tony that he had worked in a cotton gin for 40 years and had not lost any fingers and he wanted Tony to have the money. Tony found out that he was from Mississippi and was traveling around the country. When Tony got to the pickup, he looked at what the man gave him and discovered it was a one hundred dollar bill. Tony couldn't believe it and wished he would have gotten the man's name. There really are angels among us!

Sunday Smiling Faces

Good News

Tony went back to the Dr. yesterday and got good news. His hand is healing well and he got the big cast that he had to his elbow off. It was really bothering his wrist, so now he only has bandages on the fingers and he can move his wrist. The Dr. told him he could do whatever he wanted now as long as he protected those fingers until they were healed. He is going back in 2 weeks to get the stitches and pins out of his fingers and the Dr. said he would write him a note releasing him to go back to work. Of course at first he won't be able to do everything that he is used to doing, but in time he will. He may even go to the ranch tomorrow to help Richard with the cattle.

He is still a little self-conscious about being out in public. He doesn't want anyone to see his fingers just yet. We are going to go to Canyon tonight to see Wellington and Canadian play football and this will be the first time he has been around anyone. I know he will get lots of questions about how he is. He knows everyone.....and I'm not exaggerating much!! Erynn calls him the mayor because he knows everyone!

I want to thank everyone again for all of the calls and inquiries about Tony. He really has a lot of friends and people who care about him. He was very appreciative of all of the concern.

What a Weekend!

What a weekend this was. I'm all about 3 or 4 day weekends, but I don't want to spend it in the hospital with my husband.

Tony had an accident on Thurs. afternoon around 5:30. He was working on a fence and trying to finish. He only had about 10 ft. left and this was to be his last fence until next summer. He was splitting a picket with a table saw and in a split second something went wrong and his hand got cut by the saw. The saw took off his middle finger at the knuckle and damaged the other 3. His thumb was spared. The guy helping him with the fence, Travoy, saw what happened and immediately drove him to the ER. He called me from the ER and said he had Tony there and that he had lost a couple of fingers. I'm thinking he's just kidding around, but he said he was dead serious. So I get Erynn to call her Mom, Lynsi, who is a nurse at the clinic and told her to go see about her Dad and that I would be right there. Erynn told Lynsi that T-pa had cut his hand, so when Lynsi got there, she was expecting a cut, but he pulled out his hand and she saw the missing fingers and was shocked!

Dr. Henderson and Kate took good care of him and Lynsi helped them out. Of course Tony was still making jokes in the ER. He takes things pretty well. They called Lubbock and told them he was coming and then Jake and Zach put him in the ambulance and took him to the airport to be put on a plane and sent to Lubbock. When they got to Lubbock, they rode on the ambulance with him from the airport to the hospital. They didn't have to do that and he appreciated it. When he got to the hospital, Randal and James, Tony's bosses, along with Randal's wife Kelly were waiting on him. They stayed until I got there.

I was trying to get things together and I had Tony's phone and my phone and they were both ringing and I couldn't even think about what I was doing. Erynn packed my bag for me and Lynsi came in and started answering the phones. Travoy got my car ready and went to feed the animals. Joe, Erika and Bailey went with me to Lubbock so I wouldn't have to drive by myself. There are lots of deer on that road and it was dark. I do not know my way around Lubbock, so I had Randal on the phone trying to get me to the hospital. We finally got there right after they had taken him to surgery. Tony's brother Rickey and their Mom got there a few minutes after we did.

The surgery took about 2 hours. This young Dr. came out and explained everything they did to each finger. He was very nice and friendly. He made a joke and said, I hope he's a Longhorn fan because he'll have a permanent 'hook-em Horns' sign. Tony has yet to see the main surgeon. Apparently he is an important and great surgeon so he just does the surgery and his assistants talk to the family and make the rounds at the hospital.

The middle finger was gone at the site. They couldn't save the ring finger. It was too damaged. The index finger had some nerve damage and they think they fixed it ok so that he will be able to grip. The pinky is iffy. It had a lot of damage, but they think they repaired it good enough so that he will be able to use it. They will just have to wait and see on that one.

When he got to the hospital, he didn't have anything with him so he didn't have his insurance card. I guess since they didn't have any insurance information, they assumed he didn't have any and put him in a double room. We thought we were going to get out the next day, so didn't think about asking for a private room, but we ended up staying 3 nights there. It was horrible with someone else in the room. Tony couldn't get much sleep because of all the visitors the other guy had, plus this guy was in a band, so he brought his guitar and played it right in the room. We were both so ready to get out of there! I got a motel room each night, so I did get sleep, but poor Tony had to put up with this guy. I'm so thankful we are home now.

We got to come home on Sunday afternoon. The ride was a little rough on him, but he made it ok. He has had so many visitors, calls, emails, and comments, it's unreal. He has had people all over asking about him. Word travels fast these days with the internet and cell phones.

He is suppose to leave on Thurs to go to NM on a hunting trip. He has had this planned for a year now and it was all paid for. He is really upset about not getting to go and he was thinking that he would not get any money back, but luckily someone is taking his place and came over yesterday and gave him the money. So at least he is not out that much money and there will always be other hunting trips.

I don't know how long he will be out of work, but he works for the best company and I know they will support him every step of the way. It will be a long road ahead, but he will make it. He has always had a good attitude and he has a lot of support from family and many, many friends!

Foto Friday

ATM

I received this email and I thought everyone could use a laugh today since it is Monday. The scary thing about this is that some of these things are true for me!

A new sign in the Bank Lobby reads:

"Please note that this Bank is installing new Drive-through ATM machines enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles. Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their accounts.

After months of careful research, MALE and FEMALE procedures have been developed.

Please follow the appropriate steps for your gender:

MALE PROCEDURE

1. Drive up to the cash machine.
2. Put down your car window.
3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.
4. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.
5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.
6. Put window up.
7. Drive off.

FEMALE PROCEDURE

1. Drive up to cash machine.
2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.
3. Set parking brake, put the window down.
4. Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card.
5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up.
6. Attempt to insert card into machine.
7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance from the car.
8. Insert card.
9. Re-insert card the right way.
10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back page.
11. Enter PIN.
12. Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.
13. Enter amount of cash required.
14. Check makeup in rear view mirror.
15. Retrieve cash and receipt.
16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.
17. Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of checkbook.
18. Re-check makeup.
19. Drive forward 2 feet.
20. Reverse back to cash machine.
21. Retrieve card.
22. Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot provided.
23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you.
24. Restart stalled engine and pull off.
25. Redial person on cell phone.
26. Drive for 2 to 3 miles.
27. Release Parking Brake.

Blog giveaway

I read a blog called That Girl and Her Pug. It is a really fun and interesting blog. She has a great giveaway that I think you should enter. Go there now and enter!!

Wordless Wednesday

Jacob is very happy about his new highchair!!

Wordless Wednesday

Teacher Arrested

I got this in an email. I don't know who the author is. If you know anything about math, you will find it humorous!

TEACHER ARRESTED.. - A public school teacher was arrested today at John F. Kennedy International Airport as he attempted to board a flight while in possession of a ruler, a protractor, a set square, a slide rule, and a calculator. At a morning press conference, the Attorney General said he believes the man is a member of the notorious Al-gebra movement. He did not identify the man, who has been charged by the FBI with carrying weapons of math instruction."Al-gebra is a problem for us," the Attorney General said. "They desire solutions by means and extremes, and sometimes go off on tangents in a search of absolute value. They use secret code names like 'x' and 'y' and refer to themselves as 'unknowns,' but we have determined they belong to a common denominator of the axis of medieval with coordinates in every country. As the Greek philanderer Isosceles used to say, 'There are 3 sides to every triangle.' When asked to comment on the arrest, Senator Ted Kennedy said, "If God had wanted us to have better Weapons of Math Instruction, He would have given us more fingers and toes."
White House aides told reporters they could not recall a more intelligent or profound statement by the Senator.

Wordless Wednesday

I'm too tired for words today so here is my sorta wordless Wednesday. This should make everyone smile!!

9/11

Most people are thinking about the tragedy that happened on this date 8 years ago. While I also think about it and am sad that it happened, there is another reason that I remember this date. It's Tony's birthday. It's not a good thing to have to share it with something so sad. So I'm not going to talk about the tragedy, instead, I'll talk about Tony.


He's worked for South Plains electric for 20 years and I've said this before but he is the hardest worker I know. I've even demanded that he quit doing fences after his regular job, but when someone calls and wants a fence, he can't seem to tell them no. I told him from now on to make them come through me and I'll tell them no!


We've been married for 30 years. He's a good husband, father, son, friend, uncle, brother, and especially T-pa. He loves his grandkids and will do just about anything for them. The boys love to go hunting with him...they can't get enough of that. Someday, he will be taking Jacob along too...no matter what his Mom might say!! He has 8 bird dogs that he takes hunting and a few months ago he finally got a new toy that he's been wanting for a long time...a Polaris Ranger. All the kids like to ride in the Ranger and he sometimes takes them all the way to the farm in it. He is taking it and his bird dogs on a 12-day hunt in November to New Mexico...that's his birthday present to himself!


Erynn said he's like the mayor...he knows everyone. He does know everyone and if he's met you once, then he will always know you and call you by name. If you see Tony today, wish him a happy birthday. He will probably tell you how old he is, but I'm not because we are the same age!!

Bloggin' and Facebook

It seems like that a lot of my blog friends don't post blogs anymore. I think that Facebook has taken over. I'm not a very consistent blogger myself, but I like reading them and I try to make comments whenever I can. But what gets me are these people who say that they won't have a blog, Facebook, or Myspace because they don't want people knowing what they do...which is fine. But my problem is why do you read other people's posts? If we don't know what you are doing, why do you want to know what we are doing? It doesn't seem fair. I don't care what other people are doing, but if you read mine, shouldn't I be able to read yours? I don't like people to just read my posts or updates and then go and talk about what I do with other people and not comment. I know it's impossible to comment all the time, but just once in a while it would be nice to know who reads what I say. I don't like stalkers!! If there is something that I don't want read, then I won't write it!! There are some people who have profiles on FB or MS just so they can read other people's things. I enjoy FB...it's about the only way I communicate with people anymore. I have lots of FB friends and I found my best friend from high school that I hadn't seen or talked to in 30 years! I like to post pictures of my family, too. So, my thing is....if you don't like blogs, FB, MS or any other online community, then just stay off of it and let the rest of us have our fun!!

Wordless Wednesday

Can you guess who these kids are? (this wasn't totally wordless)

Why?

You know...if anyone should understand kids, it's me...you would think. After all, I've worked with them for 15 years, I have some of my own and grandkids of my own and when I was a teenager, all I did, it seemed was babysit. I bet I babysat every little girl in Wellington. For some reason, I never babysat boys!! Anyway, I'm a school counselor so I've had child development classes, child psychology classes and many others to show me how to deal and understand kids, but yet.....I don't! I don't understand them at all.

For example...after the very first day of school, I was really tired and just wanted to come home and rest. I keep my grandkids after school until their Mom gets off work, so as soon as I pulled in the driveway, I get a call from Erynn (she is always the one in charge and does the calling)...anyway, she says, "Nana, come to the public library" I said,"What for Erynn, I'm tired!" and she just persisted as always, "Nana, come down here now, we need you. " (She's the boss of me!) So I back out and go down the street to the public library and see Erick, Bailey and Erynn putting their bikes in the bike rack. I pull up there and Erynn runs over to tell me that they need me inside. So I park, get out and go in...not knowing what they were doing. So when I get in there, they tell me that they need an adult to be there when they get their library cards. Now they've had ALL summer to get a public library card so that they could read and watch movies and not be bored...but NO...they choose the first day of school when I just got home and am exhausted. I just don't understand these little people!

I don't understand why they are not tired after school. Why don't they want to go home and just rest and watch tv?? Why do they have to be doing something all the time....I mean, all I want to do is go home and rest and watch tv...is that so hard for them to do??? Is it because I'm old??? Nevermind!!

Now, back to the books......they get books that require making or doing something. Why can't they get a book that they actually read! Bailey got a book called 'Salt Dough Projects'....so even though they've been at school all day doing papers and doing projects, they want to make something that makes a mess right after school. And the thing is, they won't take no for an answer. Or my 'no's' mean nothing to them!! So I just left them in the kitchen to do it themselves....I went to lie down and watch Jeopardy!! I give up...I'm outnumbered and outsmarted when it comes to these little people!!

I got this quote off of someone else's blog. It seemed appropriate for today.


"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. -Abraham Lincoln"

Wordless Wednesday - Vacation

Kids Say the Darndest Things!!

I have a quick funny story. I know some of you read this on my Facebook, but I thought it was worth repeating here.

My granddaughter Erynn, 8, was wanting to drink one of my diet drinks yesterday and I said, "how am I suppose to lose weight if you drink my diet drinks?" And she said, "Nana, you don't need to lose weight" and I was thinking awwww.....she is sweet, then she continued, "you're 50, it doesn't matter what you weigh. We are just glad you are alive!"

Wordless Wednesday

Foto Friday -- It's Tough Being a Kid in Summer!!!